Wind-chest for pipe-organs.



No. 896,452. PATENTED AUG. 18, 1908.

I A. E. KENT. WIND CHEST FOR PIPE ORGANS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6, 1908.

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WIND CHEST FOR PIPE ORGANS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6, 190a.

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R I: J? 4, I. I a i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT E. KENT, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO A. B. FELGIMAKER ERIEORGAN COMPANY, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

WIND-CHEST FOR PIPE-ORGANS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18,1908.

Application filed February 6, 1908. Serial No. 414,562.

To all whom it may concern? Be it known that I, ALBERT E. KENT, acitizen of Great Britain, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie andState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Wind-Chests for Pipe-Organs; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to wind-chests for pipe organs, and has for itsobject the construction of an independent wind-chest for each set ofpipes, into which the wind may be turned when it is desired to use thatparticular chest and its relative pipes; also to provide pneumatic valvemechanism for each speaking pipe adapted to be operated by a singlekey-controlled pneumatic.

Another object is to provide a pipe-valve mechanism that can be readilydetached without disturbing the rest of-the mechanism.

These and other features of my invention will appear hereinafter in thespecification and claims, and are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which: 7

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a series of my improved wind-chestsfor pipe organs, parts thereof being broken away. Fig. 2 is a transversevertical section of the same on the line 9cx in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a likesection of the same on the line yy in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a verticallongitudinal section of the same on the line .22 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of one of the pipevalve mechanismsremoved from the chest.

In these drawings A A A indicate a series of wind-chests each of whichis independent and unconnected with any other wind chest in the organ,and each of which, with its attached pipe-valve mechanisms hereinafterdescribed, is a duplicate of the others, there being one wind-chest Afor each set of pipes used in the organ. When one of these windchests Ais to be used, the wind is supplied thereto under sufficient pressurethrough its air-trunk A, said air being turned on or ofi therefrom by.means of the ordinary stop mechanism of the organ, which is not a subject of the present invention.

valves F to the valve-ducts a.

The front wall of my improved wind-chest A is vertically pierced withpipe-ducts a, there being as many pipe-ducts a as there are tones in thescale of the organ, and the rear wall thereof is also pierced with alike num ber of vertical key-controlled ducts a. The bottom A of thischest A is provided with as many openings A (see Fig. 3) as there arepipe-ducts a (usually 61 in number). Under the bottom A of thewind-chest A, covering and closing each of the openings A, I securevalve-blocks B, one to cover each of said openings. The valve block B isprovided with an air-passage B leading from a valveseat 5 concentricwith the opening A in the bottom of the chest A, to the lower end of apipe-duct a in the wind-chest A. There is also an extension of thekey-controlled duct a through the rear end of the blockB.

Under each block B I secure a pneumatic C which is preferably providedwith a weight for the purpose of collapsing the pneumatic when the airis cut off therefrom. From this pneumatic O a duct 0, in the support C(see Fig. 3) leads to the lower end of the key-controlled duct (1 In theconstruction of pipe organs I preferably connect a number of wind chestsof the type hereinbefore described in series by means of a board D, tothe under side of which the chests A are secured, and which board Dentirely covers said chests transversely the entire length thereof. Thisboard D is provided with passages or ducts D, one for each key in theorgan key-board and controlled thereby, and each of the passages D isconnected and communicates with the key-controlledducts a, as shown inFig. 2, and by broken lines in Figs. 1 and 4, the passages D lyingbetween the pipe ducts a and branch key controlled ducts a, as shown bybroken lines in Figs. 1 and 4. The advantage of this construction isthat it gives a single straight air passage from the key-controlled Thepipeducts a extend upward through the board D. On top of the board Dabove the chest A, I place a base board A having therein an extension oof the pipe duct (1, and on top of this base-board A I place thepipe-board A in which the pipe openings a are placed, and whichcommunicate with the extensions a of the pipe-ducts a.

The rear end of the board D extends beyond the chest A and is providedwith openings d one of which communicates with each of the passages D insaid board. Upon this extension is placed a pneumatic chest E. On theunder side of the top of this chest E, and over each of the openings clin the board D forming the bottom of said chest E, I place a pneumaticF, having a weight f on its underside to maintain it in a normallyextended position. From this pneumatic F a valvestem F extends throughthe opening (I, and upon said valve-stem is secured a valve F whichnormally seats upon the upper end of the opening (Z, and another valve Fis secured upon said. valve-stem below the lower end of said opening (Z,and normally leaves the lower end of said opening open. From theinterior of the pneumatic F, a key-pipe G leads to the key-board ol theorgan. not shown. There is a leak passage E from the interior of thepneumatic chest E to the interior of the pipe G through which the airleaks for the purpose of equalizing the pressure in the pipe andpneumatic G and F with that in the chest E. For the purpose ofregulating the passage of air through the leak E, I provide a regulatingscrew 0. Compressed air is supplied to the interior of the chest I) bymeans of the air pipe E from any convenient source capable ot furnishinga steady pressure.

Supported and operated by the pneumatic C, under the wind-chest A, thereis a valvestem II, the lower end. of which is securely fastened to thetop of the pneumatic C. These valve-stems II pass upward throughcontractedv openings 1) in the blocks B and through the valve-seats bthereon, and are provided with a'small valve h adapted to close theopenings 1) when the valve-stem H is raised by the pneumatic C. On theupper ends of these valve-stems H, I secure pipe valves II in the usualmanner. The pneu matic C or valve H may be weighted, or not, as desired,but I prefer to weight the pneumatic sulliciently to insure quickclosing of the valve II upon its seat I), when the air in the pneumaticC is exhausted therefrom.

In operation compressed air is, by means of the usual combination stopmechanism common to this type of organs, turned into the wind-chest A.Air is also supplied under steady pressure to the pneumatic chest Ethrough the air pipe E which air passes through the leak-passage E untilthe pressure in the key-pipes G and pneumatics F is the same as in thechest E. When the air in one of the pipes G- is opened, or allowed toescape to the atmosphere the pressure in the chest E collapses thepneumatic F, thereby opening the valve F and closing the valve F, thusallowing the air in the chest E to pass into the duct D and therefrominto all of the key-controlled ducts a connected with that particularduct D, which air causes the pneumatics C to raise the valves II in eachof the Wind-chests A, thereby allowing the compressed air in the chest Ato pass into the pipe duct (1 and thence to the organ pipes through thepipe opening (1 It is obvious, however that where pressure is absent inany of the wind-chests A their corresponding organ-pipes will remainsilent although their valves II are opened.

From the foregoing description it is obvious that the number ofwind-chests that can be used with my improved construction is onlylimited by the desires of the builder, the only change necessary beingin the length. of the board I) and its ducts D and the number ofwind-chests A secured thereto.

I am aware of the construction o'l" windchests and pneumatic actionsdisclosed in United. States Letters-Patent to Haskell, N o. 734,261,Sommerho'l, No. 362,629, lioosvclt. No. 449,177 and Wirsching No.513,931. But in all of these patents the inventors and patentees exhausttheir pipe-valve motors to make their pipes speak, which system car rieswith it the necessity ol" maintaining air pressure in each pipe-valvemotor, when the keys are at rest, of which there is one lor each key inthe scale of the organ key-board multiplied by the number ol stops, andas each ol" those pneumatic motors are mainly constructed of leather,which is more or less porous, there is a great loss of air therel'rom.

The advantage of my system of pipe- 'al e motors C is that they arenormally collapsed or exhausted, and only when the pipes speak is airsupplied to the motors C. The only motors in my system which remainnormally in a distended position are the motors F, but as they areinclosed in an air chest E, there is no loss by leakage therefrom, whichenables me to produce a quicker and stronger acting pneumatic. Anotheradvantage of my invention over the mechanisms disclosed in the saidpatents is the total absence ol any pneumatic motors within thewind-chests A, surrounded by a body of direct pipe-speaking wind, whichdoes away with any chance of concussion of pipe-wind and consequentfluttering of tone, caused by the rapidly vibrating motors when inclosedwithin the direct pipe-wind as shown in the patents above mentioned.Another advantage of my invention is that I am enabled to use apipevalve motor which collapses entirely by gravity when the pipe issilent, without the aid. of springs to help the action of the motoreither way, and Which can safely be worked under one pressure. Anotheradvantage ol? my invention over the disclosures oi the above mentionedpatents is that all of my pipe-valve motors C and their supports andattached pipe-valves, are self contained. and individually removablefrom the outside ol the chest when repairs thereto are needed.

Having thus described my invention so as to enable others to constructand use the same, what I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters-Patent is:

1. In a Wind-chest for pipe organs one or more independentstop-chambers, pipe-Wind valve-seats removably secured to the exteriorof each of said stop-chambers, valves seated upon said valve-seats,valve-motors removably secured under each of said valves, valvestemsextending from each of said motors to and secured in each of saidvalves, a pipeboard for each of said stop-chambers, said board havingpipe seat openings therethrough, pipe-Wind duets leading from saidpipe-Wind valve-seats to said pipe-seat openings, key-controlled ductsleading from a source of compressed air supply to said valveoperatingmotors, and compressed air conveying ducts leading from each of saidstopchambers to a source of compressed air supply, substantially as setforth.

2. In a Wind-chest for pipe organs, one or more independentstopchambers, pipe-Wind valve-seats removably secured to the exterior ofsaid stop-chambers, valves seated upon said valve-seats, valve operatingmotors removably secured under each of said valves, valve-stemsextending from each of said motors to and secured in each of saidvalves, a pipe-board for each of said stopchambers having pipe-seatopenings therethrough, pipe-Wind ducts leading from each of saidvalve-seats to each of said pipe-seat openings, a compressed-aircontaining chamber, a series of key-controlled valve-seats through thebottom of said chamber, valves seated upon said valve-seats,valve-operating motors secured to the top of said airchamber one aboveeach .of said Valve-seats, valve-stems extending from each of saidmotors to and through each of said valves and valve-seats, valvessecured upon each of said valve-stems adapted'to seat against and closethe under side of each of said valveseats, exhaust ducts leading fromeach of said valve-motors to the keyboard of the organ, key controlledducts leading from each of said valve-seats in the bottom of saidcompressed-air chamber to each of said pipe- Wind valve operatingmotors, and compressed air conveying ducts leading from a source ofcompressed air supply to each of said stop-chambers, and to saidcompressed air containing chamber, substantially as set forth.

3. In a Wind chest for pipe organs, a ductboard extending throughout thelength and Width of the Wind chest, longitudinal keycontrolled ductsWithin said board, an independent stop chamber for each set of speakingpipes supplied from said Wind-chest secured to said duct-boardtransversely of the zey-controlled ducts therein, a pipe-board havingpipe-seat openings therethrough for each of said stop-chambers,pipe-valve-seats removably secured to said stop-chambers,

valves seated thereon, pi e-Wind ducts lead ing from each of said vave-seats to each of said pipe-seat openings, a pipe-valve operat ingmotor removably secured underneath each of said pipe-valves, valve-stemsex tending from each of said motors to and secured in each of saidpipe-valves, an auxiliary valve on each of said valvestems adapted toclose the valve-stem opening through the Wall of the pipe-Wind ductsWhen the pipe-valve is raised, branch key-controlled ducts leading fromthe longitudinal ducts in the duct-board to the pipe-valve operatingmotors, compressed air conveyer pipes leading from a source ofcompressed air supply to each of said stop chambers, a compressed airchamber mounted upon said duct-board, valve-seat openings through thebottom of said chamber communicating With the longitudinalkey-controlled ducts in said ductboard, valve-operating motors securedto the roof of said air chamber, valve-stems leading from each of saidmotors through each of said valve-seat openings, valves on each of saidvalve-stems adapted to close the upper end of each of said valve-seatopenings and open the under end thereof when its relative motor isinflated and to open the upper end of said valve-seat opening and closethe lower end thereof When the motor is collapsed, exhaust ducts leadingfrom the interior of each of said motors Within said compressedair-chamber to the key-board of the organ, and a compressed airconveying pipe leading from a source of compressed air supply to saidchamber, substantially as set forth.

4. In a Wind-chest for pipe organs, one or more independentstop-chambers, pipe-Wind valve-seats removably secured to the exteriorof eachof said stop chambers, valves seated u on said valve-seats, valvemotors removab y secured underneath each of said valves, valve-stemsextending from each of said motors to and secured in each of saidvalves, means for rapidly closing said pipe valves, a pipe-board foreach of said stopchambers, said board having pipe-seat openingstherethrough, pipe-Wind ducts leading from said removable valve-seats tosaid pipeseat openings, key controlled ducts leading from a source ofcompressed air supply to said valve-operating motors, and compressed airconveying ducts leading from each of said stop-chambers to a source ofcompressed air supply, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a Wind-chest for pipe organs With an individualpipevalve mechanism for each pipe valve, comprising substantially avalve-seat, valve, and valve operating means, said mechanism adapted tobe independently secured to and removed from said Wind-chest,substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a Wind-chest for pipe organs with an independentlyremovable pipe-valve mechanism comprising substantially a baseremovablyseeured to said chest, having therein the pipe-valve seat and avalve-stem opening, a pipe-Wind duct leading from said valve-seatopening, a valve seated upon said valve-seat opening, a stem secured tosaid valve and extending through said valve-stem opening, an auxiliaryvalve on said valve-stem adapted to be seated against said valve-stemopening when the pipe-valve is opened, a valve operatingmotor underneathsaid valve-stem and secured thereto, means secured to said base adaptedto support the under side of said motor, and a key-controlled ductleading from the interior of said motor to a source of compressed airsupply, substantially as set forth.

'7. The combination of a Wind-chest for pipe organs with anindependently removable pipe-valve mechanism adapted to he secured tothe exterior of said chest comprising substantially a base having thepipe-valve I seat and valve-stem opening therein, a pipe- Wind duettherein adapted to convey pipe- Wind from said valve-seat opening, amotor support adapted to be removably secured to said base, a valveoperating motor secured to said support, a key controlled duet leadingfrom a source of compressed air supply to the interior of said motor, avalve-stem secured to said motor and extending through the valve-stemopening and valve-seat in said base, a valve upon said stem seated uponsaid valve-seat, and an auxiliary valve on said stem adapted to closesaid valve-stem opening When the pipe-valve is raised, sub stantially asset forth.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

AIJBER'I 'IG. KENT.

itnesses II. M. STURGEON, G. J. MEAD.

